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If I should ever use the word the phrase "people of that ilk" to me it would mean something negative or bad or not acceptable. Is this the current usage, or am I mistaken and *ilk* is still a neutral synonym for *sort, type, class, same location* ? Native English speakers, help.
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Meaning of this word ilk
#1
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Posted 2010-April-15, 12:10
#2
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Posted 2010-April-15, 12:38
I've always used it under the impression that it's neutral. If the demonstrative pronoun "that" in "people of that ilk" refers to something with a negative connotation, then obviously the expression becomes something negative, and I think that's the most common usage. So "ilk" is often associated with something negative, but it doesn't have to be.
imo.
For example I see nothing wrong in a discussion about particularly wealthy or intelligent people to say "people of that ilk" to describe their peers, which I would hope doesn't automatically convey a negative connotation.
imo.
For example I see nothing wrong in a discussion about particularly wealthy or intelligent people to say "people of that ilk" to describe their peers, which I would hope doesn't automatically convey a negative connotation.
OK
bed
bed
#3
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Posted 2010-April-15, 12:49
Fred, Uday, Inquiry, and others of that ilk provide a great service for us.
OK
bed
bed
#4
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Posted 2010-April-15, 13:28
The denotative meaning is Scottish - it means "of that same (place)" - so Iain Montcreiffe of that ilk is a "Montcrieffe of Montcrieffe".
"X and others of that ilk" means X, and the people like him. That can be good - see jjbrr, or bad; depends on the implication of the group based on what's being said about X.
"X and others of that ilk" means X, and the people like him. That can be good - see jjbrr, or bad; depends on the implication of the group based on what's being said about X.
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Posted 2010-April-15, 13:38
jjbrr, on Apr 15 2010, 01:49 PM, said:
Fred, Uday, Inquiry, and others of that ilk provide a great service for us.
and that is just peachy
"Tell me of your home world, Usul"
the Freman, Chani from the move "Dune"
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
George Bernard Shaw
the Freman, Chani from the move "Dune"
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
George Bernard Shaw
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Posted 2010-April-15, 13:57
mycroft, on Apr 15 2010, 02:28 PM, said:
The denotative meaning is Scottish - it means "of that same (place)" - so Iain Montcreiffe of that ilk is a "Montcrieffe of Montcrieffe".
"X and others of that ilk" means X, and the people like him. That can be good - see jjbrr, or bad; depends on the implication of the group based on what's being said about X.
"X and others of that ilk" means X, and the people like him. That can be good - see jjbrr, or bad; depends on the implication of the group based on what's being said about X.
Up to a point, Lord Copper. "ilk" (from the Old English "ilca") meant merely "same"; it did not necessarily connote a place. The current chief of Clan Donald is Godfrey James MacDonald of that ilk, but the clan is so called because they are descendants of a man named Donald (of Islay), not because they come from a place called Donald.
Nowadays, the phrase "of that ilk" is used as mycroft indicates. It is not in any way pejorative; the Oxford English Dictionary currently describes the usage as "erroneous", but so common has it become that only a pedant would object to it.
When Senators have had their sport
And sealed the Law by vote,
It little matters what they thought -
We hang for what they wrote.
And sealed the Law by vote,
It little matters what they thought -
We hang for what they wrote.
#7
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Posted 2010-April-15, 14:40
Neutral to me
Please let me know about any questions or interest or bug reports about GIB.
#8
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Posted 2010-April-15, 14:41
Definitely neutral
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Posted 2010-April-15, 16:47
Jlall, on Apr 15 2010, 03:41 PM, said:
Definitely neutral
I'm a very good driver.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
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Posted 2010-April-16, 07:23
I always really liked my 8-iron....
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